Pitless pumper



1951 J. E. BUTTERFIELD, SR, ETAL 2,578,669

PITLESS PUMPER Filed Nov. 7. 1949 3| l E l5di| INVENTORS JAMES E.BUTTERFIELD SR. JAMES E. BUTTERFIELD J'R. BY HAROLDAJOHNSEN WWW/WW ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 18, 1951 PITLESS PUMPER James B'utterfield, Sn, James Butterfield, J12, and Harold A. Johnsen, Excelsior, Minn.

Application November 7, 1943. Serial No. "125,938

Claims. '1

This invention relates to what are known as pitless pumpers.

In certain'wells it is desirable that the pump head be located at or below ground level for connection at its lower end to the well casing and for discharge through a dischargepipe lo cated at or below ground level. To protect the well casing from seepage of surface water into the same it has been customary in certain instances to connect the upper end of the pump head to "apipe running to a point above ground level and "forming in reality an extension of the casing. The discharge head of the pump is fitted into the pump head and it is customarily packed therein s'o as to seal off any backfiow of water into the drop pipe carried by the discharge head and through which the pump rod works. The upper end of the discharge head is customarily connected to a difierential cylinder which communicates with a pipe running above ground level-and the pump rod extending through the differential cylinder carries a compensating plunger which works within the diiierential cylinder. While as originally installed a proper seal can be made between the discharge head and the pump head, if for any reason, such as repair purposes, it becomes necessary to remove the lower or main cylinder which is carried by the drop pipe within the casing, "the efiectiveness of the usual seal between the discharge head and the pump head is usually destroyed and it generally becomes necessary to remove the entire pump structure above the well casing including the pump head before the repair work can be done and the parts reinstalled with the pump head again sealed in proper relation in the pump head.

It is the object of this invention to provide a pitless pumper incorporating therein a novel pump head and cooperating novel discharge head, the two being so related that proper seal can be made between the discharge head and the pump head at all times to prevent the drainage of surface or other "water into the drop pipe and yet itwill be possibleto quickly and easily remove the discharge head and all parts carried thereby from the pump head and reinsert the parts "back in place to again r'obtain Pthe wproper sealing action zwithout :necessitating :the .removal or repair of the pump head orthecasing extension.

.A :further object'is to incorporate in'thei-pump head or dischargehead a-conduit.running through the discharge head permitting the drainage of moisturecondensed or accumulating in the easing extension downwardly into the casing.

The objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the'accompanyingdrawings wherein like referencecharacters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the various views, and in which Fig. l is a vertical section through a pitless pumper incorporating therein an embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a pitless pump head 3 which will be located normally at or below ground level. This pump head has a lower external flange connected in the usual fashionas by-bclts 4 to a flange 5 screwed to a nipple 5 forming a portion of the well casing which is designated as an entirety by the letter A. The nipple E may be connected by screw threads to a reducer l which in turn is screwed to a pipe 8 forming the main part of the well casing. The upper end of the pitless pump head 3 is also equipped with an external flange secured as by bolts 9 to a flange l6 screwed to the lower end of a large pipe H running to a point above ground level and forming in reality an upper extension of the 'well casing. The pump head 3 is provided with a lateral outlet 3a which is threaded to take a discharge pipe l2 from which the water pumped from the well is dispensed. The main or lower cylinder 13 of the pump, of course, fits within the lower part of the well casing A and is carried by a drop pipe I4 running upwardly through the casing A. There is also provided a discharge head I5 which is carried by the pump head 3 and this discharge head in the customary manner is provided with a lower tapped mouth lta which is screwed to the upper end of the drop pipe M. The discharge head 15 also has an upper tapped mouth I5b which is screwed to the lower .end of a differential cylinder It which runs upwardly into the pipe H and which is customarily connected as by a collar l'l having drain apertures Ila therein to a cylinder extension l8 carried to a point above the pipe H. The cylinder extension [8 is embraced by a pair of semi-circular rubber half collars l9 located within the pipe ll near its upper end and is also embraced by lower and upper metal half collars 20 and 2| disposed one at either side of the rubber half collars 19. The lower half collars 2E1 fit within the pipe H, while the upper half collars 21 rest on the upper end of the pipe I l and screws 22 run through the upper collars .21 and through the rubber collars l9 and are screwed into the lower metal collars 20, thereby compressing the rubber half collars l9 and sealing the cylinder extension I8 to the casing extension pipe II. In other words, the parts |9, 20, 2| and 22 form a well seal of the type that is customarily employed at the top of the well. Screwed to the cylinder extension |8 above the well seal thus provided is a base 23 which will carry the usual pumping mechanism for reciprocating the pump rod. The pump rod 24 runs downwardly through the base 23, through the cylinder extension I8, the collar H, the differential cylinder IS, the discharge head l5, and the drop pipe M to the lower or main cylinder l3 and this pump rod may be made in two or more parts as shown connected together as by a nut or nuts 25. It is customary to break the pump rod below the differential cylinder l6 as shown, the break often occurring in the portion of the pump rod running through the discharge head I5. The pump rod 24 carries a compensating plunger 26 which may be of the double cup type and this plunger works within the differential cylinder l6 sealing the cylinder is above the discharge head l5.

, The parts thus far described, with the exception of the pitless pump head 3 and the discharge head l5, are of standard construction and no novelty resides in any of these parts per se. The pitless pump head 3 is of unusual construction in that it includes above the lateral outlet 3a an upper internal seat 21 and below the outlet a lower internal seat 23, these two seats, of course, being vertically spaced from each other.

Both upper and lower seats 21 and 28 are circular and taper downwardly. The greatest diameter of the lower seat 28 is less than the smalltion. It includes a lateral outlet port 29 which X aiiords communication between the internal portion or chamber of the discharge head and the internal portion of the pump head 3 between the two seats 21 and 28. The discharge head l has an upper external circular seating portion 36 which is tapered downwardly and machined to fit and engage with the upper seat 2'! of the pump head 3. Also, the discharge head has a lower external seating portion 3| which is downwardly tapered and machined to fit and engage with the lower seat 28 of the pump head simultaneously with the engagement of the upper seating portion with the seat 21. In other Words, the spacing between and size of the two seating portions 21 and 3| of the discharge head are such relative to the two seats 21' and 28 of the pump head that the upper opening in the pump head 3 will be closed and sealed by the engagement between the seating portion 30 and the upper seat 2'! at the same time that the lower opening in the pump head is closed and sealed by engagement between the seating portion 3| and the seat 28. Of course, the discharge port 29 of the discharge head is located intermediate the two seating portions 39 and 3| and thus when the discharge head is properly located within the pump head it becomes impossible for any water or dirt to seep or flow into the pump head 3, communication with the pump head being only by way of the drop pipe M or the differential cylinder I6. The greatest diameter of the lower seating portion 3| is less than the smallest diameter of the seating portion 3|] and it should also be noted that all portions of the discharge head 3 below the seating portion 30 are'of' less external diameter than the smallest diameter of the seating portion 30. Accordingly, it is possible to readily insert the discharge head l5 into the pump head 3 from above the pump head and it is readily possible to withdraw the discharge head from the pump head by pulling the discharge head upwardly therefrom.

A vertical by pass passage 32 is provided through one of the two heads 3 and IE to permit of drainage of moisture around the chambers of the two heads from the casing extension pipe H to the casing A without communication with the chambers of the two heads. In the illustrated embodiment the said passage 32 is formed chiefly in a lateral extension of the pump head 3, the passage including an upper horizontal bore extending radially outwardly from the inner wall of head 3 from a point immediately above the upper seat 21, a vertical bore 32b in the extension and with which the bore 32a communicates and a horizontal bore 320 communicating with the lower end of bore 32b and extending radially inwardly to the inner wall of the pump head below the lower seat 28. Through this passage 32 moisture carried above the compensating plunger 26 and spilling into the casing extension pipe through the drain apertures Ila may drain into the well casing A without communicating with the chambers of the pump head 3 or the discharge head l5.

The beauty of the present pitless pumper construction lies in the fact that no gasket need be used in forming the seal between the pump head and the discharge head and the discharge head l5 and parts connected thereto can at any time be removed from the pump head 3 for repair or replacement and be reinserted in the pump head without disturbing the pump head,

the casing extension pipe connected thereto or the well casing connected thereto. Thus, if, for example, it becomes necessary to withdraw the main or lower cylinder l3 for repair or ex amination of the parts thereof this can be readily accomplished and proper sealing action between the outlet head l5 and the pump head 3 will be accomplished when the parts are reinserted. To withdraw the discharge head I5 and parts connected thereto it is merely neces-' sary to loosen the screws 22 and then pull upwardly on the cylinder extension |8, whereupon the discharge head I5, the drop pipe I4, the lower or main cylinder Hi, the pump rod 21 and the difierential cylinder l6 and connected parts may be withdrawn from the pump head 3 and the well casing A. When the repairs are made these parts may be again lowered into position and effective seal is again made between the seating portion 3| and the seat 28 and between the seating portion 30 and the seat 2|, without replacement of parts, to again seal off the pump head above and below the discharge head. Attention is called to the fact that although in the drawings the outlet port 29 of the discharge head H3 is shown as being aligned with the lateral outlet 3a of the pump head3 it is umiecessary to so align these passages either during original or subsequent assembly of the parts.

While the construction of the pump head and discharge head is quit simple, yet the structure is highly valuable for use in pitless pumpers. One of the chief drawbacks to the use of pitless pumpers has been the difficulty and expense involved in pulling the pump parts for repairs when the pump head is located at or below ground level. This difiiculty is overcome by use of the present structure.

warm

5 It will, of course. be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement, and proportitons of the various parts without departure from the scope of the present invention, which, generally stated, consists in the matter shown, and described, and set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a pitless pumper a pump head adapted to be connected at its lower end to a well casing and adapted to be connected at its upper end to a conduit extending from the pump head to a point above ground level, said pump head having a lateral outlet adapted to be connected to a discharge pipe, said head having upper and lower internal vertically spaced downwardly tapering circular seats, the upper seat being located above said lateral outlet and the lower seat being located below said lateral outlet and the greatest diameter of the lower seat being less than the least diameter of the upper seat, a discharge head adapted to be connected at its upper end to a, diiferential cylinder and adapted to be connected at its lower end to a drop pipe and through which a pump rod may be extended, said discharge head having an upper external downwardly tapering seating portion adapted to be engaged with said upper seat and having in downwardly spaced relation from said upper seating portion a downwardly tapering external lower seating portion adapted to be engaged with said lower seat simultaneously with the seating of the upper seating portion in said upper seat, said discharge head below said upper seating portion being of no greater external diameter at any point than the smallest internal diameter of said upper seat, and said discharge head having between its upper seating portion and its lower seating portion a lateral discharge port for communication with said pump head.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, and one of said heads incorporating therein a drain conduit affording communication between said first mentioned conduit and said well casing.

3. A pitless pumper comprising a pitless pump head, a well casing connected to the lower end of the pump head and projecting down into the well, a conduit connected to the upper end of said pump head and projecting above the ground level, said pump head having a lateral outlet and having above and below said lateral outlet upper and lower vertically spaced downwardly tapering upper and lower circular seats, respectively, the lower seat being of less diameter than the smallest diameter of the upper seat, a discharge head having upper and lower downwardly tapering spaced external seating portions adapted to respectively engage with said seats, said discharge head having a lateral port between said two seating portions for communication with said pump head, a difierential cylinder connected to the upper end of said discharge head, a drop pipe connected to the lower end of said discharge head, a pump rod projecting through said differential cylinder, said discharge head, and said drop pipe into said well casing and a compensating plunger working within said differential cylinder and carried by said pump rod.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, one of said heads having a drain passage affording communication between said first mentioned conduit and the well casing for the drainage of liquid.

5. A pitless pumper comprisin a pitless pump head, a well casing connected to the lower end of the pump head'and projecting down into the well, a conduit connected to the upper end of said pump head and projecting above the ground level, said pump head having a lateral outlet and having above and below said lateral outlet upper and lower vertically spaced downwardly tapering upper and lower circular seats, respectively, the lower seat being of less diameter than the smallest diameter of the upper seat, a discharge head having upper and lower downwardly tapering spaced external seating portions adapted to respectively engage with said seats, said discharge head having a lateral port between said two seating portions for communication with said pump head, a differential cylinder connected at the upper end of said discharge head, a drop pipe connected to the lower end of said discharge head, a pump rod projecting through said differential cylinder, said discharge head and said drop pipe into said well casing, a compensating plunger working within said difierential cylinder and carried by said pump rod, said differential cylinder having a, drain opening above said plunger and said pump head having a drain passage extending from immediately above the upper seating portion through the pump head and communieating with the well casing below said discharge head.

JAMES E. BUTTERFIELD, Sc. JAMES E. BUTTERFIELD, JR. HAROLD A. JOHNSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS .Number Name Date 1,851,915 Ligon Mar. 29, 1932 1,901,031 Humason Mar. 14, 1933 2,252,773 Lageson Aug. 19, 1941 

